
A new chapter in Africa’s healthcare journey has begun with the official opening of the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, Nigeria—a visionary US$300 million facility built to stem the continent’s massive outflow of patients and reposition Africa as a global destination for high-quality healthcare.
Developed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with King’s College Hospital London, the AMCE stands as a testament to what African-led partnerships can achieve. Designed to meet global standards, the facility was commissioned in the presence of Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (represented by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima) and attended by top government officials and institutional leaders.
“Today, we are not merely unveiling a hospital, but asserting Africa’s readiness to reclaim its health sovereignty. We refuse to accept medical vulnerability as our destiny.”
— President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (represented by VP Shettima)

From Medical Tourism to Medical Excellence
Africa loses an estimated $6–10 billion annually to outbound medical tourism. AMCE Abuja directly challenges this, providing world-class services in oncology, cardiology, haematology, and general medical care, eliminating the need for many Africans to seek treatment abroad.
At present, the Centre houses 170 beds, including 20 ICU beds, six critical care units, and five surgical theatres. The facility hosts the largest stem cell laboratory in West Africa, featuring 15 post-transplant isolation rooms and cutting-edge medical equipment, including a 3 Tesla MRI, 256-slice CT scanners, and an 18 MeV cyclotron.
Plans are already underway to expand to 500 beds and add a medical and nursing school, research centres, and residential facilities, establishing Abuja as a continental healthcare hub.

Africa’s Response to Global Gaps
The AMCE arrives at a critical moment. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed Africa’s reliance on external systems, while other crises—from Ebola to malaria—have highlighted the lack of local, context-specific research and treatment options. AMCE is a bold corrective to that history.
“We are building for a future where no African needs a passport for quality care. With AMCE, we launch not just a hospital—but a new era of healthcare self-determination.”
— Brian Deaver, CEO, AMCE
This Pan-African initiative is supported by key stakeholders such as the Bank of Industry (BOI) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what President Tinubu hailed as “a model of how African institutions can jointly address African challenges”.
Afreximbank: Investing in Africa’s Health Future
For Afreximbank’s President, Prof. Benedict Oramah, the Centre is a deeply personal and visionary mission.
“This Centre is proof that society thrives when it invests in saving lives, not burying its people. AMCE is a commitment to life, dignity, and the future of African healthcare.”
— Prof. Benedict Oramah, President, Afreximbank
He also launched the Africa Life Sciences Foundation, which aims to mobilise risk capital for cutting-edge research and called upon African governments, banks, and philanthropists to invest in healthcare innovation through the Foundation.

Education, Innovation, and Capacity Building
AMCE’s ambition stretches beyond treatment. In its next phase, it will feature:
A 350-bed expansion
Medical and nursing schools
A medical sciences foundation
Advanced biobank facilities
Collaborations with global institutions, including The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and University of Wisconsin
Professor Clive Kay, CEO of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, described AMCE as “a beacon of what world-class healthcare partnerships can achieve in Africa.”

A Model for the Continent
The opening of AMCE marks a pivot from dependency to healthcare self-reliance. It aims to reverse the continent’s brain drain, offer employment opportunities, and deliver care that is affordable, accessible, and African-led.
In a region where diseases like sickle cell and malaria continue to afflict millions, and where global funding often falls short, AMCE is a game-changing institution with potential continental ripple effects.

Reclaiming the African Health Narrative
Africa has long been sidelined in global healthcare narratives—but no more. The AMCE stands not just as a hospital, but as a symbol of continental renaissance. Rooted in African collaboration, powered by global partnerships, and fuelled by a vision for sovereignty, it affirms that Africa’s future is not to be outsourced—it is to be built from within.
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Source: afreximbank
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